Why do Auto Insurance commercials seek to entertain us, rather than inform us.

[OAITW r.2.0]

They all claim that they can save us $500 over our current plan.....it's absurd.

But, the point seems to me, with their TV prime-time advertising, is...you will move your policy to a company featuring a lizard, or an Emu, or, what's her name....the one with the apron. At least (another company) uses funny tragedy situations to remind us to have insurance.

[Sherman A1]

1. Simple

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Ocelot II]

2. Because insurance is fundamentally boring

and people don't really want to have to buy it. So they have to come up with entertaining, attention-getting ads and try to sneak their message in that way.

[Hoyt]

3. It's name recognition and little more. Kinda like the emu.

[msongs]

5. yep, branding, not trying to sell a specific car nt

[ProfessorGAC]

4. What's To Inform?

We all know how insurance works.
If a clever ad gets one to remember them at renewal time, they get more customers.
A commercial informing us about insurance would seem kind of insulting to me.

[OAITW r.2.0]

6. But why do all of these companies spend huge, repititive ad$ trying to get, say, maybe

10% market shoppers Invest in your online Customer Service or invest in your Ins. Reps - I get more satisfaction using my local ins. co to handle my auto/home. known them for 40 years...They probably aren't the cheapest, but I value their diligence in making sure I have the coverage I need..

[FoxNewsSucks]

8. All that ad revenue

ensures that our corporate media will never inform us how badly insurance companies are screwing us.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Because It Works?

I go local, as well. Our home & car are with a company represented by an agency 10 miles from our house.
No 800 number, no website. Just my agent & her boss.
But, advertising must work or no insurance company would bother.
I didn't pursue a lower rate. They came to us. Three companies around the same time. Point to point advertising, I guess. Worked for them.
And, we really did save. A lot! Our homeowners premium went down $40 a month & car $14. $708 a year less for the same coverage.
What I found happening with my prior homeowners policy was creep. 4 straight increases of 4.5-5% when inflation was under 2%. Might have gone back further, I'm not sure.
So, the business model seems to include sneaking unwarranted increases until someone complains.
Basically, we overpaid for some time & switching got us a more fair price.
So, the "save by switching" is real from where I sit.

[unblock]

7. Advertising is rarely to inform "how products work"

Other than for some relatively innovative products.

People know how cars work (at a high level, anyway), how snacks and drinks work, etc.

Most "informative" ads try to focus simply on a one or a few facts that differentiate them from the competition or remind people why they "need" their product or service.

4 out of 5 dentists, how much horsepower, taste great less filling, look how long our battery lasts, that sort of thing.

But as we all know, 95-100% of any ad campaign is just trying to get the brand name to stick and be tied to some positive feeling.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. That's The Point

You're actually agreeing.
There's nothing about insurance the company needs to inform the public about.
The point is to be memorable. Nothing beyond that matters when the information is a known.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. The very best thing about not owning a conventional TV in any form

is that I almost never see commercials. Oh, I watch my share of television on streaming services, so no ads.

This latest round of not having a TV has now lasted 13 years, and I don't expect I will ever go back. I get to watch as much as I want, although admittedly I am years out of date on any series you could name.

But back to the point. By not seeing the ads, I'm free of feeling guilty about how I look, or thinking I need to tell my doctor I need a specific medicine, or believe my life would be perfect if only I drove the right car.

This also means that having a modest income isn't as distressing as it would be if I were constantly bombarded with the ads that tell me to buy, buy, buy!

It's not just the auto insurance commercials, it's all of them.

[MissMillie]

11. the most effective ads are ads that are remembered (n/t)

.

[SKKY]

13. For the exact same reasons our politicians seek to entertain...

...It's not about facts, it's about feelings.

[Silent3]

14. Can you imagine how boring purely informative auto insurance ads would be? n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. I think auto insurance ads are a great entertaining relief ...

... from the ads for on-line betting.